Welcome to the NSPCA’s Week in Review!
This week, the NSPCA confronted the cruelties of the captive lion industry in Parliament, highlighting systemic neglect and calling for urgent action. We also take you to the frontlines with Inspector Wrolien Rabie, who faces immense challenges protecting animals. Discover the grim reality of pigeon racing and learn how our disaster response teams provided crucial aid to animals in 2024.
This weekend, in particular, may we find strength in our shared purpose – and hold fast to compassion, even when it feels like the world is looking the other way.
Taking the Fight for Wildlife to Parliament
This week, the NSPCA stood tall in Parliament to confront one of South Africa’s most shameful cruelties: the captive lion breeding industry.
Chief Inspector Douglas Wolhuter, Manager of our Wildlife Protection Unit, delivered a powerful address to the Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, backed by disturbing evidence of systemic neglect – cubs dumped like rubbish, emaciated lions, and zero breeding bans.
Despite Cabinet’s adoption of a phase-out plan in 2024, the reality remains unchanged. Offenders face minimal penalties while cruelty persists unchecked. “If there’s a breeding ban,” said Wolhuter, “someone forgot to tell the lions.”
Parliamentarians from all political parties condemned the practice and acknowledged the NSPCA as a vital partner. We’ve called for urgent action: real audits, proper penalties, and an end to this trade in suffering — not next year, now.
We’ll keep fighting. For the lions (and tigers). For the law. For what is right.
👉 For a deeper dive into this story, read Daily Maverick’s article here.
📲 Your Voice on Social Media:
- “This horrible breeding programme must be stopped forever.” — Facebook/Salome Odendaal Du Plessis
- “#SaveLions #NoToCagedLions” — Instagram/@swank_za
- “Keep pushing. Thank you.🙏”— Instagram/Jann Hill
Beyond the Badge: The Toll of Protecting Animals in South Africa
Farm animal welfare inspector Wrolien Rabie works on the frontlines of animal protection, often in isolation and at great personal risk. She faces open hostility, gender-based threats, and emotionally harrowing scenes – from mass chicken culls to animals dying in neglect.
Despite the trauma, she continues to show up. “Compassion is my duty,” she says, recalling moments when her presence made the difference between suffering and relief.
Rabie navigates resistance. Still, she believes in the law’s power – and in people’s capacity for change.
What keeps her going? Stories like Smoke, the burnt dog who healed and found love. “That’s what reminds me it’s worth it,” she says.
👉 Read the full story from Daily Maverick here.
Photo of the Week
Inspector Wrolien Rabie of the Farm Animal Protection Unit at the NSPCA
Racing Isn’t a Choice: The Plight of Pigeons
Pigeon racing may seem harmless, but the reality is grim: nearly 60% of pigeons die during training, and many more never return from races. Captive-bred and dependent on humans, racing pigeons face predators, starvation, and extreme weather when forced to fly for sport.
The NSPCA’s Special Projects Unit conducts inspections across South Africa, ensuring lofts and liberation points meet welfare standards. When cruelty is uncovered, we act decisively.
The NSPCA remains firmly opposed to animal racing in any form, because protecting animals isn’t just our duty, it’s our promise.
👉 Donate here to support our work.
🔥When Disaster Strikes, We Show Up
From floods to fires and even a tornado, the NSPCA’s Disaster and Emergency Response Teams aided animals in five provinces during 2024.
Disasters come in many forms. They are all destructive. Not only do they impact heavily on the lives of people, but animals also fall victim and are threatened with suffering and death. Our team is on standby 24/7 to respond and provide hands-on assistance to animals when disasters strike.
Curious to learn more about how the NSPCA safeguards animals across South Africa? Dive deeper into our 2024 Annual Report and discover the full story behind these efforts.
That’s a wrap for this week’s Week in Review! If these stories resonated with you, check out the full articles and join the conversation on our social media pages.
📲 Join our WhatsApp channel for on-the-go newsbytes.
Your support helps us continue making a difference for animals – whether by sharing our updates, raising awareness, or donating to our cause. See you next Sunday for another Week in Review!
If you are as passionate about animals and their well-being as we are, consider supporting our causes by donating.
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Will You Be the One Who Takes Action?
Most people will scroll past this. But will you be the one who stands up for animals?
Animal welfare isn’t always in the spotlight, but it changes lives – for every neglected, abused, or suffering animal we help. Our teams work tirelessly, often behind the scenes, ensuring animals across South Africa are protected.
This work is relentless. The challenges are immense. But with more hands, hearts, and resources, we can do even more.
The equation is simple: the more supporters we have, the greater our reach, the stronger our impact.
Be part of the change. Become an NSPCA Project Partner today. From just R50 per month, you can help ensure that no animal suffers in silence.
